Solaicx is moving closer to shaking up the solar industry by introducing a new manufacturing process that can produce silicon wafers more quickly and with less source material.

The company has developed a continuous process for manufacturing silicon wafers that will be thinner and reduce the silicon required by 30 percent. Solaicx designed the process specifically for producing solar cells instead of plants that were originally designed for producing semiconductors.

The first manufacturing plant will be located in Portland, Oregon, and will produce enough solar ingots and wafers for 48 megawatts and will move up to 142 megatwatts when it is fully operational. Portland provided financial incentives for the company to build the plant in the city, a smart move that will create jobs. Given Intel's proximity, Solaicx shouldn't have a problem finding workers with experience in Silicon.